A TEMPERAMENT FOR ANGELS (28'24") is Michael Jon Fink's
fascinating study of harmony. Fink uses, for the most part,
conventional acoustic instruments like those found in a chamber
ensemble, and with these instruments, realizes compositions at
the edges of conventionality. This piece begins with a single
string being bowed slowly. The sustaining note is joined by
another, and another, until a full musical chord is formed. Notes
are added, then subtracted, raised or lowered an octave - ever
so slowly. As the tonality of this piece gradually shifts between
one of harmony to one of dissonance, and back, it is obvious that
the composer's emphasis is on the nature of transformation.
Throughout, Fink establishes congruous sonorous scales, then
corrupts them into explorations of dense harmonics. We hear
overtones forming as frequencies clash and resolve. Quite
compelling are the few moments when two notes are played in
unison, the slight detune creating a wonderful tension. At times
all parts are playing fully only to metamorphize into a single
deconstructed dirge-like note, then slowly rolling on again like an
enormous ground-swell of sound - the dense fullness of
amplitude contrasting the more diffuse passages. The piece
concludes with the low rumbling of gently scraped cymbals, the
work's only completely atonal moment. While A TEMPERAMENT
FOR ANGELS may share some of the attributes of Ambient
Music, one does not play this music as something to be
experienced on the fringes of perception. This music has been
designed to stimulate the active mind and Fink has created an
intense transitory work, akin to something large and enigmatic
moving through twilight.

Tune in to STAR'S END this weekend for music from A
TEMPERAMENT FOR ANGELS by Michael Jon Fink

For more on A TEMPERAMENT FOR ANGELS, access:
http://www.coldbluemusic.com

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Chuck van Zyl
Host of STAR'S END Ambient Radio
http://www.starsend.org